Queen's Plate
Restricted race | |
Location | Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1860 |
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Website | woodbine |
Race information | |
Distance | 1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs) |
Surface | Tapeta |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | 3-year-old Canadian-bred |
Weight | Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg) |
Purse | CDN$1 million |
The Queen's Plate (known as the King's Plate from 1901 to 1952, when the reigning monarch was male) is Canada's oldest Thoroughbred horse race, having been founded in 1860.[1] It is also the oldest continuously run race in North America.[2] It is run at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles for a maximum of 17 three-year-old Thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer, normally in June or July, at Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke, Ontario. It is the first race in the Canadian Triple Crown.
The 2020 event, originally scheduled for June 27, was postponed to September 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[3][4] The 2021 event was run on August 22, 2021.[5]
History[]
In 1859, when Canada West was still a colony of Britain, the then-president of the Toronto Turf Club, Sir Casimir Gzowski, petitioned Queen Victoria to grant a plate for a new race in the territory. Upon royal assent, the first Queen's Plate was run on June 27, 1860, at the Carleton racetrack in Toronto, with the prize of "a plate to the value of 50 guineas". Despite the name of the race, the winning owner is presented with a gold cup rather than a plate.[6]
Originally, the race was restricted to three-year-olds bred in Canada that had never won a stakes race. The race was originally run in heats, with a horse having to win two heats to be declared the winner. Over the years, the race conditions have evolved. Heat racing was discontinued in 1879, and the race was opened to stakes winners around the same time (some early records are incomplete). For many years, the race was open to older horses and in the early 1900s was even open to two-year-olds. The race is currently restricted to three-year-olds foaled in Canada. The owner must pay a nomination fee ($500 in 2018) in February, a second subscription fee ($1,500 in 2018) in May and a final entry fee ($10,000) in late June prior to the race.[7][8][9]
The first four renewals were run at Carleton racetrack. After that, the Queen's Plate became a "movable feast", with politicians from all over modern-day Ontario vying to host the race in their constituency. Fifteen different race tracks hosted the race over the next two decades, with distances varying from one to two miles.[7] In 1883, the race moved to Old Woodbine, located in eastern Toronto along Lake Ontario. The race continued to be held at Old Woodbine until that track was replaced by "New" Woodbine in northern Toronto in 1956. The race has been run at Woodbine ever since. In 2006, Woodbine changed the track surface for the main track from natural dirt to a synthetic surface known as Polytrack. In 2016, the surface was changed to Tapeta. Because of the change in racing surfaces, Woodbine maintains several sets of track and stakes records. The fastest time for the race since 1957, the year in which the race was set at its current length of 1+1⁄4 miles, is 2:01 4/5, set by Kinghaven Farms Izvestia in 1990 over a dirt surface. However, because the race is now run over an artificial dirt surface, the modern stakes record is 2:01.98, set by Mighty Heart in 2020.[8][10][4]
In 1902, the year after Victoria's death, the race became the King's Plate, after her successor, Edward VII. It became the Queen's Plate again when Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952.[11]
Horses owned by Windfields Farm have won the Queen's Plate eleven times, but the most successful was the stable owned by Joseph E. Seagram, a prominent distiller from Waterloo, Ontario. Seagram's stable won the Queen's Plate on twenty occasions between 1891 and 1935 including eight times in a row between 1891 and 1898, and ten times in eleven years from 1891 to 1901.
In 1964, Northern Dancer, the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby, also won the Queen's Plate in his final race.[12]
In 2006, Josie Carroll became the first woman trainer to win the Queen's Plate. The following year, Emma-Jayne Wilson became the first female jockey to win the race.
The 2004-2013 Plate winners had little success in their subsequent racing careers. This compares unfavourably to the 1990s when a number of Plate winners had considerable success thereafter, including With Approval, Izvestia, Dance Smartly and Awesome Again. The more recent Queen's Plate winners have also been successful, including Lexie Lou (who became a multiple graded stakes winner in Canada and the US after winning the Plate in 2014) and Shaman Ghost (a Grade I winner in America after winning the Plate in 2015).[13]
Nick Eaves, former President and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment Group, announced during the 2012 Queen's Plate post position draw that Woodbine Racetrack may be forced to close in April 2013 due to the cancellation of Slots at Racetrack program partnerships between Ontario's racetracks and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Eaves said that if Woodbine is not open, "there won't be a Queen's Plate."[14] A new funding agreement was put in place in March 2013, which ensured the continuation of horse racing at Woodbine.
37 fillies have won the Queen's Plate, beginning with Brunette in 1864. The 2017 running was won by filly Holy Helena, while the 2018 running was won by Wonder Gadot.[15] Two chestnut fillies both by the name of Wild Rose have won the Queen's Plate, in 1867 and 1886. They were the daughter and great-great-grand-daughter respectively of Yellow Rose, who also produced the first Queen's Plate winner Don Juan.[7]
The race has been held at a variety of distances:[8]
- 1860–1867: 1-mile (1.6 km) heats
- 1868–1870: 2 miles (3.2 km)
- 1871: 1+3⁄4 miles (2.82 km)
- 1872–1886: 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km)
- 1887–1923: 1+1⁄4 miles (2.01 km)
- 1924–1956: 1+1⁄8 miles (1.811 km)
- 1957-: 1+1⁄4 miles (2.01 km)
Royal patronage[]
As Queen of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II is patron of the event, and various other members of the Canadian Royal Family have been in attendance through the years, beginning with the Duke of Argyll and his wife, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, in 1881, when the Duke was serving as Governor General of Canada and the couple was touring Ontario.[16] Elizabeth II's most recent visit to the race was in early July 2010.[17]
Records[]
Stakes Record
- Dirt – Izvestia — 2:014⁄5 (1990)
- Synthetic dirt - Mighty Heart – 2.01.98 (2020)
Winningest Jockeys:
- 4 – Avelino Gomez (1957, 1960, 1966, 1969)
- 4 – Sandy Hawley (1970, 1971, 1975, 1978)
- 4 – Robin Platts (1972, 1974, 1977, 1984)
Winningest Trainers:
- 8 – Harry Giddings Jr. (1911, 1913, 1914, 1920, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1942)
- 8 – Roger Attfield (1976, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2008)
- 6 – (1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896)
- 6 – Gordon J. "Pete" McCann (1940, 1951, 1953, 1957, 1959, 1963)
- 6 - William H. Bringloe (1923, 1926, 1928, 1933, 1936, 1937)
Winningest Owners:
- 20 - Seagram Stables
- 11 - Windfields Farm
Winners[]
2012 winner,
Strait of Dover2013 winner,
Midnight Aria2014 winner,
Lexie Lou2015 winner,
Shaman Ghost2016 winner,
Sir Dudley Digges2017 winner,
Holy Helena2018 winner,
Wonder Gadot2019 winner,
One Bad Boy2021 winner,
Safe Conduct
Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | WellSpring Stables (Robert Vukovich) | 2:02.85 | ||
2020 | Mighty Heart | Josie Carroll | Lawrence P. Cordes | 2:01.98 | |
2019 | Flavien Prat | 2:02.98 | |||
2018 | Wonder Gadot † | John R. Velazquez | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber | 2:02.26 |
2017 | Holy Helena † | Luis Contreras | James A. Jerkens | Stronach Stables | 2:02.87 |
2016 | Sir Dudley Digges | Julien Leparoux | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey | 2:04.09 |
2015 | Shaman Ghost | Stronach Stables | 2:03.45 | ||
2014 | Lexie Lou † | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber | 2:03:94 |
2013 | Midnight Aria | Jesse M. Campbell | 2:04.72 | ||
2012 | Strait of Dover | 2:01.99 | |||
2011 | Inglorious † | Luis Contreras | Josie Carroll | 2:02.63 | |
2010 | Big Red Mike | Eurico Rosa da Silva | 2:04.89 | ||
2009 | Eye of the Leopard | Eurico Rosa da Silva | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:03.84 |
2008 | Not Bourbon | Jono Jones | Roger Attfield | Charles E. Fipke | 2:03.59 |
2007 | Mike Fox | Emma-Jayne Wilson | 2:05.45 | ||
2006 | Edenwold | Emile Ramsammy | Josie Carroll | Jim & Alice Sapara | 2:05.30 |
2005 | Wild Desert | Pat Valenzuela | Robert J. Frankel | Daniel Borislow & Partners | 2:07.37 |
2004 | Niigon | Robert Landry | Chiefswood Stable | 2:04.72 | |
2003 | Wando | Patrick Husbands | 2:02.48 | ||
2002 | T J's Lucky Moon | 2:06.88 | |||
2001 | Dancethruthedawn † | Gary Boulanger | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:03.78 |
2000 | Scatter the Gold | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:05.53 |
1999 | Woodcarver | Mickey Walls | 2:03.13 | ||
1998 | Archers Bay | Kent Desormeaux | Todd Pletcher | Melnyk & | 2:02.10 |
1997 | Awesome Again | Mike E. Smith | David Hofmans | Frank Stronach | 2:04.20 |
1996 | Victor Cooley | Emile Ramsammy | Mark Frostad | Windways Farm | 2:03.80 |
1995 | Regal Discovery | Todd Kabel | Roger Attfield | No. 1 Stable | 2:03.80 |
1994 | Basqueian | Jack Lauzon | Daniel J. Vella | Frank Stronach | 2:03.40 |
1993 | Peteski | Craig Perret | Roger Attfield | Earle I. Mack | 2:04.20 |
1992 | Alydeed | Craig Perret | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:04.60 |
1991 | Dance Smartly † | Pat Day | Jim Day | Sam-Son Farm | 2:03.40 |
1990 | Izvestia | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:01.80 |
1989 | With Approval | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:03.00 |
1988 | Regal Intention | Jack Lauzon | Jim Day | Sam-Son Farm | 2:06.20 |
1987 | Market Control | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:03.60 | |
1986 | Golden Choice | Dick Sanderson | 2:07.20 | ||
1985 | La Lorgnette † | David Clark | Macdonald Benson | Windfields Farm | 2:04.60 |
1984 | Key to the Moon | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | 2:03.80 | |
1983 | Bompago | Larry Attard | Carl Cardella & Partners | 2:04.20 | |
1982 | Son of Briartic | 2:04.60 | |||
1981 | Fiddle Dancer Boy | David Clark | 2:04.80 | ||
1980 | Driving Home | 2:04.20 | |||
1979 | Steady Growth | Brian Swatuk | John J. Tammaro Jr. | Kinghaven Farms | 2:06.60 |
1978 | Regal Embrace | Sandy Hawley | Macdonald Benson | Windfields Farm | 2:02.00 |
1977 | Sound Reason | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | 2:06.60 | |
1976 | Norcliffe | Jeffrey Fell | Roger Attfield | 2:05.00 | |
1975 | L'Enjoleur | Sandy Hawley | Yonnie Starr | J. Louis Lévesque | 2:02.60 |
1974 | Amber Herod | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | 2:09.20 | |
1973 | Royal Chocolate | Gil Rowntree | 2:08.20 | ||
1972 | Victoria Song | Robin Platts | Green Hills Farm | 2:03.20 | |
1971 | Kennedy Road | Sandy Hawley | 2:03.00 | ||
1970 | Almoner | Sandy Hawley | 2:04.80 | ||
1969 | Jumpin Joseph | Avelino Gomez | 2:04.20 | ||
1968 | Merger | Wayne Harris | Golden West Farms | 2:05.20 | |
1967 | Jammed Lovely † | Yonnie Starr | Conn Smythe | 2:03.00 | |
1966 | Titled Hero | Avelino Gomez | 2:03.60 | ||
1965 | Whistling Sea | Olivier Ranches | 2:03.80 | ||
1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Hartack | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 2:02.20 |
1963 | Canebora | Manuel Ycaza | Gordon J. McCann | Windfields Farm | 2:04.00 |
1962 | Flaming Page † | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 2:04.60 | |
1961 | Blue Light | Hugo Dittfach | 2:05.00 | ||
1960 | Victoria Park | Avelino Gomez | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 2:02.00 |
1959 | New Providence | Bobby Ussery | Gordon J. McCann | Windfields Farm | 2:04.80 |
1958 | Caledon Beau | Yonnie Starr | Conn Smythe | 2:04.20 | |
1957 | Lyford Cay | Avelino Gomez | Gordon J. McCann | E. P. Taylor | 2:02.60 |
1956 | Canadian Champ | 1:55.00 | |||
1955 | Ace Marine | Yonnie Starr | 1:52.40 | ||
1954 | Collisteo | Chris Rogers | Bur-Fit Stable | 1:52.00 | |
1953 | Canadiana † | Eddie Arcaro | Gordon J. McCann | E. P. Taylor | 1:52.20 |
1952 | Epigram | Three V's Stable | 1:58.60 | ||
1951 | Major Factor | Gordon J. McCann | E. P. Taylor | 1:53.00 | |
1950 | McGill | Chris Rogers | 1:52.40 | ||
1949 | Epic | Chris Rogers | E. P. Taylor | 1:52.20 | |
1948 | Last Mark | 1:52.00 | |||
1947 | Moldy | Parkwood Stable | 1:54.20 | ||
1946 | Kingarvie | Parkwood Stable | 1:55.60 | ||
1945 | Uttermost | Robert B. Watson | Harry C. Hatch | 1:53.80 | |
1944 | Acara | Robert B. Watson | Harry C. Hatch | 1:54.80 | |
1943 | Paolita † | 2:02.60 | |||
1942 | Ten to Ace | Charles W. Smith | Harry Giddings Jr. | Harry Giddings Jr. | 1:57.80 |
1941 | Budpath | Robert B. Watson | Harry C. Hatch | 1:56.80 | |
1940 | Willie the Kid | Gordon J. McCann | 1:55.80 | ||
1939 | Archworth | C. George McCullagh | 1:54.40 | ||
1938 | Bunty Lawless | 1:54.40 | |||
1937 | Goldlure | William H. Bringloe | Harry C. Hatch | 1:55.40 | |
1936 | Monsweep | William H. Bringloe | Harry C. Hatch | 1:55.00 | |
1935 | Sally Fuller † | Seagram Stables | 1:55.40 | ||
1934 | Horometer | Frankie Mann | Harry Giddings Jr. | Col. Samuel McLaughlin | 1:54.20 |
1933 | King O'Connor | William H. Bringloe | Seagram Stables | 1:56.40 | |
1932 | Queensway † | Frankie Mann | Harry Giddings Jr. | 1:55.20 | |
1931 | Froth Blower | Frankie Mann | Harry Giddings Jr. | 1:59.20 | |
1930 | Aymond | Ryland H. New | 1:57.20 | ||
1929 | Shorelint | J. D. Mooney | Thorncliffe Stable | 1:57.60 | |
1928 | Young Kitty † | William H. Bringloe | Seagram Stables | 1:57.00 | |
1927 | Troutlet † | Ryland H. New | 1:55.80 | ||
1926 | Haplite | Henry Erickson | William H. Bringloe | Seagram Stables | 1:59.60 |
1925 | Fairbank † | Chick Lang | 1:56.40 | ||
1924 | Maternal Pride | 1:57.60 | |||
1923 | Flowerful | William H. Bringloe | Seagram Stables | 2:11.00 | |
1922 | South Shore † | Thorncliffe Stable | 2:12.00 | ||
1921 | Herendesy | James H. Butwell | 2:10.00 | ||
1920 | St. Paul | Harry Giddings Jr. | 2:09.00 | ||
1919 | Ladder of Light † | 2:09.40 | |||
1918 | Springside | 2:08.80 | |||
1917 | Belle Mahone † | Frank Robinson | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:08.80 |
1916 | Mandarin | Arthur Pickens | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:12.00 |
1915 | Tartarean | Harry Watts | Charles Millar | 2:09.20 | |
1914 | Beehive | Harry Giddings Jr. | 2:10.60 | ||
1913 | Hearts of Oak | Harry Giddings Jr. | 2:09.20 | ||
1912 | Heresy | 2:11.00 | |||
1911 | St. Bass | Eddie Dugan | Harry Giddings Jr. | 2:08.80 | |
1910 | Parmer | 2:12.40 | |||
1909 | Shimonese † | 2:10.40 | |||
1908 | Seismic | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:11.00 | |
1907 | Kelvin | 2:12.60 | |||
1906 | Slaughter | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:11.60 | |
1905 | Inferno | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:12.00 | |
1904 | Sapper | 2:12.00 | |||
1903 | Thessalon | 2:15.50 | |||
1902 | Lyddite † | 2:15.00 | |||
1901 | John Ruskin | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:18.75 | ||
1900 | Dalmoor | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:14.00 | ||
1899 | Butter Scotch † | 2:15.50 | |||
1898 | Bon Ino † | Charles Boyle | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:15.50 | |
1897 | Ferdinand | Charles Boyle | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:13.00 | |
1896 | Millbrook | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:19.00 | ||
1895 | Bonniefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:17.50 | ||
1894 | Joe Miller | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:28.50 | ||
1893 | Martello | Harry Blaylock | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:14.00 | |
1892 | O'Donohue | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:22.00 | ||
1891 | Victorious | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:14.50 | ||
1890 | Kitestring † | 2:22.00 | |||
1889 | Colonist | J. D. Matheson | 2:16.00 | ||
1888 | Harry Cooper | J. D. Matheson | 2:18.50 | ||
1887 | Bonnie Duke | 2:19.00 | |||
1886 | Wild Rose † | 2:48.25 | |||
1885 | Willie W. | 2:58.00 | |||
1884 | Williams | 2:50.75 | |||
1883 | Roddy Pringle | Charles Boyle | Charles Boyle | 2:52.50 | |
1882 | Fanny Wiser † | 2:51.00 | |||
1881 | Vice Chancellor | 2:53.00 | |||
1880 | Bonnie Bird † | 2:47.00 | |||
1879 | Moss Rose † | 2:54.50 | |||
1878 | King George | 2:49.50 | |||
1877 | Amelia † | 2:56.50 | |||
1876 | Norah P. † | 2:52.00 | |||
1875 | Young Trumpeter | Unknown | 2:52.50 | ||
1874 | The Swallow † | 2:51.75 | |||
1873 | Mignonette † | Unknown | 2:57.00 | ||
1872 | Fearnaught | 2:54.50 | |||
1871 | Floss † | Robert T. Davies | Robert T. Davies | 3:21.00 | |
1870 | John Bell | 3:54.50 | |||
1869 | Bay Jack | 3:50.00 | |||
1868 | Nettie † | 3:55.00 | |||
1867 | Wild Rose † | 1:50.50 | |||
1866 | Beacon | 1:54.00 | |||
1865 | Lady Norfolk † | Unknown | Ukn | ||
1864 | Brunette † | Unknown | 2:00.00 | ||
1863 | Touchstone | 1:59.00 | |||
1862 | Palermo | Charles Boyle | 2:03.00 | ||
1861 | Wild Irishman | George Cameron[18] | 2:00.00 | ||
1860 | Don Juan | 1:58.00 |
† indicates a filly
References[]
- ^ "Condensed History Of The Longest Established Race Of North America". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1912-05-17. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Report - Frequently Asked Questions - Horse Racing History, etc". www.thoroughbredreport.com. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Queen's Plate Postponed Due to Coronavirus". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Mighty Heart Leads Throughout in Queen's Plate Romp". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ Queen's Plate, Woodbine Entertainment Group.
- ^ "History of Queen's Plate". www.queensplate.com. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Nevills, Joe. "How Wild Rose won the Queen's Plate in 1867 - and again 19 years later". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Thoroughbred Stakes Results" (PDF). woodbineentertainment.com. pp. 117–119. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "Nomination Form" (PDF). woodbine.com. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Mauntah, Richard (8 April 2016). "Woodbine ready to showcase new Tapeta racing surface". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ The Canadian Encyclopedia. Published 2012-08-20, last edited 2014-03-07.
- ^ "Northern Dancer a Very Unlikely Hero". horseracinghalloffame.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
- ^ Shields, Emily. "Why the Queen's Plate is so much more than just Canada's most famous race". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ Campbell, Alex (21 June 2012). "Eaves: Closure of Woodbine Possible in 2013". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
- ^ "Queen's Plate Winners". www.tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
- ^ "History > History of Queen's Plate". Woodbine Entertainment Group. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ^ Morrison, Jennifer (4 July 2010). "Big Red Mike takes Queen's Plate | Toronto Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
- ^ Toronto Star, February 7, 1935
Bibliography[]
- The Plate. (1984) ISBN 0-88879-104-6
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Queen's Plate. |
- Queen's Plate
- Restricted stakes races in Canada
- Horse races in Canada
- Flat horse races for three-year-olds
- Organizations based in Canada with royal patronage
- Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
- Woodbine Racetrack
- Recurring sporting events established in 1860
- 1860 establishments in Ontario
- Summer events in Canada